Order Up: Pita Way in Anderson

There is no doubt that the Greek and Mediterranean cultures in Anderson are rich and abundant. One of the largest and most popular festivals in the area revolves around the Greek culture, and there are more and more restaurants that serve up everything from fine dining Mediterranean dishes to classics like the gyro, hummus and falafel.

New among them is Pita Way, the newest restaurant along Main Street that combines American and Mediterranean cuisine into one menu. Filled with favorites from both sides of the world, Pita Way features hot wings, cheese sticks and a variety of sub sandwiches right beside Mediterranean dishes like Shawarma, Souvalki and Tabouli.

The unique part about Pita Way is its location. For more than a decade, the location was home to short-order, 24-hour diners like Gary's II, Rileys and, for most of that time, Stewart's, a mainstay among late-night eateries in Anderson.

And while the decor has changed very little and the layout is still the same, the smells that come out of Pita Way are not just the warmed grease from the flat top or the hot oil in the fryer.

It might be hard to spot Pita Way from the road for the moment. Since opening just about a month ago, they have not had a chance to change the sign out front. Until they do, the old sign has been painted white and there are a couple of homemade signs declaring that Pita Way is "NOW OPEN."

Of course, anyone who ever ate at Stewart's will know exactly where it is and probably has a favorite parking spot in the small lot where Pita Way now sits. Walk in through the double door and take a seat at any of the booths or at the 10-seat counter that puts customers right in front of the cooking. Pita Way is a seat-yourself kind of spot, and they will come up for your order pretty much as soon as you sit down.

With no alcohol at Pita Way, you don't have to stress over the drink order. They have Coke products as well as sweet tea and bottled water.

The menu, on the other hand, is pretty expansive for a just-opened restaurant. The owners of Pita Way know that in order to have a chance among the many Mediterranean restaurants in the area they will have to offer something for all tastes that walk through the door. This is why you will see hot wings and chicken strips on the appetizer menu alongside hummus and a tabouli salad. It's also why the salad list includes grilled chicken, chef salads and steak salads as well as a classic Greek salad, the Shawarma salad and even a gyro salad.

But the combination of cuisine doesn't stop there. Pita Way offers up nine different hot subs that have no connection to the Mediterranean region. But for folks who want something they are familiar with, the turkey sub, Philly Cheese Steak and the Italian subs are going to be welcome sights on the menu.

In the sandwich category, grab a gyro or falafel if you want some distinct flavors, or just hit up the hamburger or fried chicken sandwich for something you know as well as the back of your hand.

Appetizers are anywhere from $2 for fries to $7 for chicken wings. On the salad side, everything is between $6 and $7 and the subs and sandwiches are $5 to $8 per and come with fries.

Oh, and the menu says the gyro and falafel come on white or wheat bread. This made me cringe a little because I like my gyros on flat bread. Don't worry, the classic Greek sandwiches come on flat bread, not on other breads.

Lastly, for dinner, Pita Way has a handful of specialties that includes gyro, shawarma, a steak roll or shrimp served with rice, salad and tzatziki sauce for $9 each.

Pita Way doesn't revolutionize the Mediterranean dining experience, but it provides folks a chance to enjoy some different flavors on the fly. And the owners are some of the nicest people you are going to meet and are willing to go out of their way to ensure you have a good experience with them.